Everything You Need to Know About Business Loans

Business

Don't Apply for a Business Loan Without Doing Your Homework

Starting a business is not easy — everyone knows that. But what many entrepreneurs don't realize is just how difficult it can be to actually secure financing for their new venture. Even with a solid business plan, finding the right financing option and getting approved for the amount you need can be a daunting task.

Luckily, Inc.com pulled together a cheat sheet for business loans to take some of the mystery out of business lending. What's more, this is what they have to say about borrowing from a credit union:

"[Credit unions] are often very willing to work with small businesses, and tend to have higher approval rates than big banks."

Take a look at some business loan types below — the Freedom First Business Services Team is ready to answer your questions and find a product for you.

What are Working Capital Loans?

According to Fundera, "Working capital is the cash available to finance a company’s short-term operational needs, such as accounts payable, payroll, and other more immediate needs." So a working capital loan finances these everyday expenses.

A working capital loan can come in the form of a product such as a business line of credit, SBA loan, or merchant cash advance. Often, a working capital loan is a short-term loan a business needs to cover some operational expenses as they invest in a sustainability strategy.

What are Equipment Loans?

Equipment loans are loans secured by the equipment you are purchasing — in other words, your purchase itself becomes the loan collateral. Defaulting on an equipment loan will result in the equipment becoming repossessed by your lender.

Where more substantial business loans often require a company to be operating for a few years before they qualify, equipment loans are often available to startups and smaller, newer companies, since the loan is secured by collateral. These loans tend to be more straightforward, so they can be processed more quickly than other loans.

Fundera outlined a wealth of information on equipment loans, including a checklist of what you should ask during the process. Be sure you know the loan terms around what happens if you default, whether additional collateral is required, and what the trade-in policy is.

What are Real Estate Loans?

There are a few different types of real estate loans for businesses. There are commercial real estate loans, which finance the purchase or renovation of real estate that's used for business. In other words, a retail store, office, or warehouse for your company. These loans are secured by liens on the commercial property you're purchasing, and they're mostly available to LLCs or S-corporations, not individuals.

You can also take out real estate loans to finance the purchase of investment property. If you want to pick up some rental houses for extra income or take on a flipping project, this product could help finance your endeavor. Bankrate encourages those in property investment to seek out real estate loans from credit unions because,

"[Credit unions] know the local market better and have more interest in investing locally."